Rotating permutation plate-lock



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY RITGHIE, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO H. C. JONES, O FNEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

ROTATING PERMUTATION PLATE-LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 6,555, dated June 26, 1849.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, HENRY Ri'roHrn, of Newark,in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented new anduseful Improvements in Permutation-Locks for Banks, Vaults, and otherDoors, and that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe principle or character which distinguishes them from all otherthings before known and of the manner of making, construct-ing, andusing the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, makingpart of this speciication, in which- Figure l, is a face view of thelock; Fig. 2, the same view with the lock plate removed to exhibit theinside; Figs. 3, t, and 5, longitudinal sections taken at the lines (A,a), (B, b) and (C, o) of Fig. 2; Figs. 6 and 7, sections taken at thelines (D, (L) and (E, e), of Fig. 5; Fig. 8, a reversed view of thetumbler and bolt bit; and Fig. 9 an elevation of one of the permutationplates and index.

The same letters indicate like parts in all the figures.

Hy improvements relate to that class of permutation locks in which thetumbler, which secures the bolt when thrown out, 1s permitted to move byproject-ions thereon which enter slots in a series of rotatingpermutation plates, a shifting index being connected with each of thepermutation plates for the purpose of changing the permutations, and thetumbler being made to move at right angles with the line of motion ofthe bolt.

The first part of my invention consists of fla-nches or plates attachedto the tumbler, which, when the tumbler is permitted to fall by thepermutation plates, pass over the plates of the permutation indices tolock them t-o the' permutation plates to prevent the changing of thepermutation while the bolt is locked.

In the accompanying drawings (a.) represents the lock case, and (o) thebolt. which may be of any desired construction. The bolt is thrown inand out by a bit or lever (c) on a spindle (d) the outer end of whichspindle is adapted to receive a key (e). This bolt has a spare pin (f).projecting from it which plays freely in a. large slot (g) in thetumbler (it), and this slot at each end is cut down, as at (2', z',) topermit the tumbler to rise when the bolt is thrown either in or out. Thetumbler (t) slides in mountings (j j) at right angles to the motion ofthe bolt so that any pressure made on t-he bolt to throw it in, insteadof having the effect to make the tumbler press on the permutationplates, will instead, have the effect to prevent any motion of thetuniblei. This tumbler is pressed down by a spring lever (le) and it haslive slots in it (not shown in the drawing) through which pass the boltbit spindle (d) and four other spindles (m) on which the permutationplates turn, the slots being of sufficient length to permit the tumblerto have the required play. On each of the five spindles there is acircular plate numbered in succession l, 2, 3, 4, 5, denominatedpermutation plates. They are fitted to turn freely but accurately onthespindles, and in each there is a radial slot (n), which, when in theproper position receives a tongue (o) projecting from the face of thetumbler, so that when all the permutation plates are in the properposition the tumbler is free to descend that the bolt may be thrown inor out, but when the tumbler is up and any one of the permutation platesis turned from that position the tongue rests on its periphery andcannot descend and the bolt is therefore locked and cannot be moved.

On each of the permutation plates there is a round pin which fits anyone of a series of holes near the periphery of a shifting plate (q)attached to the lower end of the permutation index (r) the lower end ofwhich is bored to fit int-o the spindle of the permutation plate, sothat when one of these is slipped on to each of the permutation plates,there arefive index plates each with a division and numbers as shown inthe drawings. And by reason of the holes in the lower plates and the pinon each of the permutation plates tlie position of the slot in thepermutation plates can be shifted to correspond with any of thedivisions on the index plates, and in this way the combination may bevaried at pleasure.

When the tumbler is let down and the bolt is free to be thrown in andout, the indices can be disconnected from the permutation plates; butwhen the tumbler has been thrown up to lock the bolt there are twoflanch plates (s, 8,) attached to the tumbler which pass over theperforated plates (g) on the indices and then lock them to thepermutation plates to prevent the changing ofthe combination after thebolt has been locked.

As the tumbler rests on the periphery of all the permutation plates, adelicate and experienced hand might by turning the permutation plates insuccession feel the slots and by degrees get them all in their propel'places and thus unlock the bolt. To preventthis, the periphery of eachof the perforated plates (o) is formed With a series of notches as shownin the drawing, and springs (t t) are made to bear thereon With greaterforce than the tumbler can press o-n the permutation plates so that themost delicate hand cannot by any possibility determine When the slots ofthe permutation plates are in the proper position.

The Whole of the Works of the lock are inclosed by the lock plate (u)except the faces of the indices and a head projecting from each by Whichthey are turned. The index plates pass through and turn freely butaccurately in a projection (fw) of the lock plate the Whole of which ismade of chilled, cast, or case hardened iron or steel to prevent accessto the inside of the lock. In this Way it Will be seen that there is nomeans even of introducing gunpowder into the lock for the purpose ofexploding it.

From the foregoing it Will be seen that the number of permutation platesand corre` sponding index plates can be increased at pleasure toincrease the permutation, and that in like manner the combination may beincreased at pleasure, by increasing the divisions on each index,provided that the number of perforations in they plates (g) attached toeach be increased to the same number, for there must be one hole foreach division of the index. And it Will also be obvious the number oflianches on the tumbler Vfor locking each indexrto its appropriatepermutation plate may be variously arranged and increased in number solong as they effect the purpose contemplated.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is*Locking the indices to the permutation plates When the tumbler is thrownup to lock the bolt by means of the lanches or other equivalent on thetumbler, substantially as herein described, to prevent the possibilityof changing the permutation after the bolt has been locked as described,whenv the lock is so arranged that the relation between the dials andpermutation plates may be changed Without opening the lock case, asdescribed.

` HENRY RITCHIE.

Vitnesses:

THos. SLAIGHT, STEPHEN WHITE.

